Port of Newcastle CEO Geoff Crowe resigns

Chairman Roy Green told the Newcastle Herald “not to read too much” into the announcement. But the decision has intrigued industry watchers, given the task ahead of  the port in trying to negotiate a way out of the secret fee written into NSW port privatisations to protect the buyer of Botany and Port Kembla from container competition.

The news of Mr Crowe’s departure comes at a time when the chairman is also facing a challenge, with confirmation this week that the Queensland-based train operator, Aurizon, had taken aim at Professor Green in his other major role as head (until June) of the Queensland Competition Authority.

In a Queensland Supreme Court case, Aurizon is  arguing that Professor Green was “conflicted” by his new role as Newcastle port chairman when he handed down a decision in December that has cut the amount Aurizon can charge its coal customers in Queensland.

Aurizon wants the decision set aside and the authority has not publicly commented on the issue.

On Mr Crowe’s resignation, Professor Green said the chief executive would finish at the end of June.

He began his career with an economics degree from the University of Newcastle and worked for various Hunter coal companies before joining the port in July 2015 from Port Waratah Coal Services, where he had been chief financial officer.

Professor Green said Mr Crowe led the port's growth and diversification strategy, including the development of plans for a cruise terminal, bulk terminal and a container terminal.

The container study launched on Thursday at Deloitte’s offices in Grosvenor Place, Sydney, is a key part of a campaign to garner capital city support for a Newcastle terminal.

The Deloitte study makes an economic argument for a rail-linked Newcastle terminal and says Botany trucks are a major driver of Sydney road congestion.